Summary/Objective:
The Director of Major Gifts and Corporate Philanthropy is responsible for raising blended annual, capital, endowment, and planned gifts from an assigned portfolio of individual donors and prospects rated with capacity for five- and six-figure gifts as part of both Philadelphia Ballet’s ongoing Building Joy Campaign and regular operations. This role will also serve as lead in establishing and maintaining relationships with current and potential corporate sponsors for Philadelphia Ballet’s Center for Dance Grand Opening (as part of our Building Joy Campaign), performances at The Academy of Music on South Broad Street, and other important organizational priorities. Collaborate across the Advancement team to ensure consistent, comprehensive, donor-driven strategies for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Essential Functions:
Frontline Fundraising—
- In partnership with the Chief Advancement Officer and Campaign Director, design and execute distinct major gifts strategies for potential individual and corporate (business and/or community) partners that create visibility for the Ballet, expand its prospect base, and build our overall major gift pipeline.
- Manage targeted portfolio of up to 50 corporate entities and/or donor + prospect households currently contributing or qualified to contribute at least $10,000 annually to Philadelphia Ballet. Through individualized cultivation and solicitation, secure renewed and increased support from both these corporate partners and individuals—growing their relationships with every area of our world-renowned arts organization.
- Actively seek out connections, through Philadelphia Ballet and its volunteer leadership, to engage both regional and national companies with a propensity to support the arts in learning more about our benefit to and impact on the community with the intended purpose of generating new financial support and corporate sponsorship for the organization.
- When relevant to overlapping donor conversations, support the identification and qualification of major gift prospects to expand membership for the Leadership Barre Society and Edwin E. Tuttle Society.
- Balance competing fundraising priorities across current-use and endowed support of the organization by consistently creating blended ask strategies to propose to prospective donors.
- Orchestrate the successful coordination and delivery of donor benefits of various kinds, including (though not limited to) for corporate sponsorship and the Building Joy
- Ensure accurate outreach/progress reporting in our Tessitura database to build trust and acquire new and consistent major supporters by tracking assigned portfolio performance in partnership with team members.
Capital Campaign—
- Serve as a critical fundraiser for the ongoing multimillion-dollar Building Joy Campaign to create the Philadelphia Ballet Center for Dance on North Broad Street (58,000 square foot facility) and systematically and significantly increase Philadelphia Ballet’s Endowment.
- Participate in specific campaign strategy development, including campaign donor and prospect research and identification, execution of campaign briefings and events, and campaign-focused solicitations.
Stewardship and Events—
- Leverage Philadelphia Ballet events to cultivate and steward any and all major donors and prospects, incorporating personal messaging, segmentation, and individual follow-up within targeted approach.
- Participate in a robust rotating performance schedule and all major Advancement events and activities.
- Perform additional duties as required/assigned by Philadelphia Ballet in conversation with direct supervisor.
Expected Hours of Work: Regular business hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Consistent evening and weekend work is required as job duties demand, especially when performances are on stage at The Academy of Music (October, December, March, and May).
Travel: Travel is primarily local during the business day, although some out-of-the-area and/or overnight travel may be expected.
Required Education & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent years of relevant work experience
- 5-7 years of frontline fundraising and volunteer management experience with regular solicitation at six-figure levels
- Knowledge and experience with Microsoft 365 suite of applications
Required Competencies:
- Positive attitude and exceptional work ethic
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills
- Establish and maintain effective and productive working relationships within a diverse and multicultural environment
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment
- Ability to collaborate well with others across all functional areas
- Take appropriate steps to promote and enforce safe work practices within each area of responsibility in accordance with policies and protocols
Supervisory Responsibility: None
Work Authorization/Security Clearance: Must provide satisfactory background checks and child abuse clearances as may be required for role.
Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Equal Opportunity Statement: Philadelphia Ballet is committed to the principles of equality in employment. The Ballet complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws and Federal Executive Orders, and provides an equal opportunity in employment for all qualified persons. We prohibit discrimination in employment based on characteristics protected by applicable law, including race, ethnicity, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender, gender identify or expression, familial status, pregnancy, domestic or sexual violence victim status, disability, service in the armed forces of the United States, or an individual’s status as a covered veteran.
